Kansas Wrestling Deserves a Division I Program

Transcription

1 Kansas Wrestling Deserves a Division I Program Briefing to leaders in Kansas By Erik Hinckley, Sean McCarthy, David Wallace with many significant contributors and mentors. FEB 2007 Largely based on Mike Moyer s Division I proposal to the University of Texas.

2 Purpose & Agenda Purpose: To inform leaders of the need to add wrestling as a Division I sport in the state of Kansas. Agenda: The Need. The Current Cost of Not Having Wrestling. Why Wrestling. Why Division I Big 12 Conference. Kansas Wrestling Overview. Kansas College Wrestling. KSU Wrestling (Club, Varsity Team, Intramural). (KU and WSU not analyzed yet). Market Analysis New or Re-instated programs since Financial Analysis. Title IX Analysis & Women s Sport Analysis. Supporting Agencies. Summary.

3 The Need Kansas wrestling programs compete nationally on all levels except NCAA Division I. KSU and KU had wrestling teams until the 1970s and dropped them due to financial reasons. More club wrestlers, coaches, volunteers, high school teams, and junior college teams than ever before. KS is producing nationally and internationally competitive wrestlers who progress to D1 programs out of state. Kansas has no D1 program to support its 5 th most popular HS men s sport. Kansas Universities have many top student-athletes in attendance who can t afford to wrestle for their wrestling club. Since no scholarships are offered, they have to work to pay for school. Kansas High Schools need coaches with college experience.

4 The Need Wrestling is a popular high school sport that is not served at the Division I level. Men s Sport Kansas High School Participants Division I Programs in Kansas Football 14,289 2 Basketball 9,537 3 Track & Field 9,199 3 Baseball 5,959 3 Wrestling 5,020 0 Soccer 3,617 0 Golf 3,394 3 Cross Country 2,936 2 Tennis 2,334 1 Swimming & Diving 1,179 0 Source: KSHSAA, NCAA

5 The Current Cost of Not Having Wrestling Potential students at Kansas Universities??: Gonz Medina NCAA Div I Qualifier, University of Pennsylvania, Cadet Greco-Roman & Freestyle National Champion, Junior/Cadet 4x All-American for Team Kansas, 3x Kansas State placer for Bishop Miege HS. Owns Blue Chip Athletic Company in Kansas City. Turned down 100% funded Putnam scholarship to KSU to wrestle at Penn. Alumnus Donor to Penn. Steve Andrus Senior at Manhattan High School State Heavyweight Champion. Cadet Freestyle National Champion Cadet Greco Roman 7 th Place Currently ranked 7 th in Nation for HS Heavyweights. Father is Marketing Professor and Faculty Advisor to the KSU wrestling club. Steve has been recruited to wrestle at Michigan State University.

6 The Current Cost of Not Having Wrestling Potential students at Kansas Universities??: Matt Pyle 2x National Champion for Luther College in Decatur Iowa (DIII), 2x Academic All-American, KWCA wrestler of the year, 3x High School State Champ for Sabetha High School Attended KSU for 1 semester before being recruited out of state. Allyn Plattner of Sabetha followed him to Luther College. 4x KS HS State Placer from Sabetha, now a Junior. Jason Pyle of Sabetha followed him to Luther College. 3x KS HS State Champion, now a Freshman.

7 The Current Cost of Not Having Wrestling Potential students at Kansas Universities??: Scott Coleman 2x All-American for Iowa State University. 4x National Qualifyer. Once for Brigham Young U., and 3x for Iowa State U. Big 12 2 nd Place and 3 rd Place finishes. 2x Academic All-American. 2x First Team Academic Big 12 pick. 3.6 GPA. 3x State HS Champion for Manhattan High Dave Schultz award recipient. NHSCA National Champion. HS record of Dr. Ken Fisher All American for Oklahoma Local Plastic Surgeon. Tanner Gardner Masters Degree Student and Captain at Stanford. 3x Academic All-American, 2x All-American. Note: Revenue Streams (actual and potential) are in financial analysis area.

8 Why Wrestling Tradition: World s Oldest Sport (with track & field). Intercollegiate wrestling in existence for over 100 years. Included in ancient and modern Olympic Games. KSU has a long tradition of competitive national wrestling. International Appeal: Minimal costs for facilities and equipment enables nearly every country to compete. Post College Opportunities: Wrestling is one of the United States three top medal winning sports in the last several Olympic Games. Military Services have competitive international teams. The Army has a full time World Class Athlete s Program.

9 Why Wrestling Wrestling Makes Leaders: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt. William Muldoon, Civil War Hero and first U.S. Boxing Commissioner. Donald Rumsfeld, Princeton wrestler. Norman Schwarzkopf, West Point wrestler. Jeremy Glick. One of 3 people who stopped the terrorists on the 4 th airplane during 9/11. Kirk Douglas, Tom Cruise, Billy Baldwin, Robin Williams, Garth Brooks. Dennis Hastert Wrestling has played a vital role in developing our nation s young people. No sport demands more in courage, discipline, and perseverance. Discipline translates to academic success: The average G.P.A. of the nation s top elite high school wrestler competing at the High School National Championships is 3.0. Elite academic institutions are succeeding in Division I wrestling: The Ivy league has three teams ranked in the top 25. Stanford, Harvard, and Lehigh each had a 2004 NCAA Champion. Nine of the 20 NCAA Division I finalists were recognized on the NWCA All Academic Team. source: NWCA

10 Why Wrestling Real Opportunity for big hearts in all body types. 10 Weight Classes provide opportunities by size. Physically Challenged: Anthony Robles 2005 National HS Champion recruited by Arizona State has only one leg. Deaf Wrestlers: Matt Hamill, 2x DIII National Champion, current mixed martial arts national contender. Blind Wrestlers. Ray Patterson Kansas State University wrestling alumnus. Women Wrestlers: U.S. women won Bronze & Silver medals at last Olympic Games. (Note: Women s wrestling would be an easy add if KSU fell out of title IX balance for some reason). Earl Jones (One leg) 3x Kansas HS Champion. 2x JUCO National Titles, at Labette Community College. Named outstanding wrestler. Division II at University of Central Oklahoma 3 rd in D II Nationals. Kansas Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee.

11 Why Division I To provide a place for the nations top academic wrestlers to compete (Engineering, Architecture, Vet Med & Agribusiness degrees). Can be instantly nationally competitive at Division I level. Instant huge fan base conversion to the school that leads the way. Can develop academic credentials for HS coaches. Center of gravity for U.S. wrestling. Market is perfect (location, location, location). Can Keep top scholar athletes in Kansas. Strong political support in Kansas. Establishing a program can be done inexpensively. Can generate momentum for all sports programs. Can build upon the school reputation and gain national visibility.

12 Recent DI standouts from Kansas Daniel Cormier: Oklahoma State, Colby CC. Bronze Medalist at 2007 World Championships and Pan-Am Games. 4 th Place at 2004 Olympics, Freestyle National Champion NCAA Runner-up. Eric Akin: Iowa State, Bishop Meige. Too many international medals to list!!!! Includes Gold medal at Pan Am Games World Team Trials Semifinalist. Has consistently placed in the top 4 Nationally in Freestyle since X All-American, 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th & 8 th.; Among Winningest ever at ISU. Jacob Klein: Nebraska, Wichita. 2x All American, 4x National Qualifier, 2x Team Captain. Bo Maynes: Oklahoma, Salina. Big 12 Champion, National Qualifier. Zach Roberson: Iowa State, Blue Valley. National Champion, Number 23 for all-time wins record at ISU. Matt Murray: Nebraska, Colby. 2x National Qualifier, National Runner-up, Academic All-American. Joe Johnston: Iowa, Shawnee Mission. 2x All-American, Currently assistant coach at Cornell. Shawn Bunch: Edinboro, Leavenworth. National Runner-up, 3x All-American Olympic Hopeful. Erik Luedke: Iowa, Colby CC. 2x NJCAA National Champ 2x All American for Iowa 8 th, 3 rd.

13 Kansans Wrestling DI Out of State Name DI School Kansas Hometown Shawn Flynn South Dakota State Lansing Marcus Waters South Dakota State Leavenworth Vince Demarest Missouri Lansing Chris Pursel Iowa State Atchison Jake Kriegbaum Air Force Academy Abilene Zach Bailey Oklahoma University Kansas City Neil Erisman Oklahoma State Desoto Aaron Ely Edinboro Leavenworth Tanner Gardner Stanford Shawnee Heights Tyler McCormick Missouri Leawood Patrick Mosley Missouri Wichita Michael Sprigg West Point Norton Tristen DeShazer Northern Illinois Wichita Jesse Strawn Old Dominion Holton Neil Cisper Penn Saint Thomas Acquinas Note: This is a very small sample.

14 Kansas Recruits to DI Schools Name DI School Kansas Hometown/School Steve Andrus Michigan State Manhattan Atticus Disney Minnesota Shawnee Heights Romero Cotton Nebraska Hutchinson Nathan McCormick Missouri Blue Valley North Jake Tannenbaum Cal Poly Blue Valley North Connor McCarthy West Point Saint Thomas Aquinas Tyler Koehn Nebraska Pittsburg Nick Flynn South Dakota State Lansing (signing below)

15 Big 12 Conference Source: NCAA 2007 Wrestling National Finish School All-Time Big 12 Championships 2006 Operating Budgets (Mils) 2006 Donations to Athletics (Mils) # of Donors to Athletics Average Donation Football Revenues (Mils) Football Season Ticket Sales Texas ,500 $1,928 62, Nebraska ,941 $1,306 74, Colorado ,000 $683 32, Oklahoma State ,100 $1,639 34, Oklahoma ,500 $1,811 63, Texas A&M ,371 $741 60, Baylor ,000 $967 10, Kansas ,336 $2,744 30, Kansas State ,500 $760 35, Iowa State ,653 $646 30, Texas Tech ,787 $898 39, Missouri ,200 $1,476 30,500 15

16 Kansas Wrestling Overview (Clubs) Source: Mike Juby, USAWKS Kids Clubs: Kids start wrestling in Kansas as early as 4 years old and many kids wrestle year round. A 7 th grade wrestler will wrestle with his junior high team, then folkstyle with the club, then freestyle and greco-roman with the club, all from November through June. Kansas then takes a team to national duals and nationals. USA Wrestling Data for 2007 (club/kids). Which Big 12 state has the best club system? Athletes Coaches Clubs Tournaments Kansas 8,140 Missouri 5,768 Texas 3,274 Oklahoma 2,233 Iowa 2,181 Colorado 1,569 Nebraska 334 Missouri 1,748 Kansas 1,728 Iowa 606 Texas 449 Nebraska 440 Colorado 294 Oklahoma 164 Kansas 186 Missouri 145 Texas 81 Nebraska 74 Oklahoma 54 Colorado 53 Iowa 42 Kansas 128 Missouri 110 Nebraska 41 Texas 40 Colorado 21 Iowa 20 Oklahoma 15 USA Wrestling : 145,145 athlete members. 21,792 coaches. 3,293 clubs. 1,762 events. Note: All Record Numbers! Tournaments: March: KS kids Folkstyle State; Topeka coliseum is packed. April: Brute-Adidas Nationals; KC Expo Center had 1,875 competitors, 720 coaches and 3,000 fans. June: Freestyle and Greco-Roman State; Junction City. July: Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals Kansas team placed 8 th in both styles.

17 Kansas Wrestling Overview (High Schools) Team State Champions (Statewide Success): When Bill Keller was a Freshman at KSU, 9 of 11 varsity wrestlers came from the same high school league in Northwest Kansas. That conference was the most dominant. Today the entire state produces competitive wrestlers. State team and individual titles span the entire state and nearly all state high schools have wrestling. High Schools need coaches with college experience. Many coaches volunteer 20+ hours per week for 7 months a year. High School coaches are not counted in previous slide coaching numbers! Tournaments: March: Kansas City hosts Metro Classic Top KS vs. MO Seniors in KC area face off. KS won in March: Senior Classic 5A & 6A Seniors vs. 1-3A & 4A KS seniors face off. Small schools won in

18 College Wrestling in the Geographic Area Wrestlers College Programs State HS DI DII NAIA NJCAA Kansas 5, Colorado 4, Oklahoma 2, Nebraska 4, Missouri 7, Iowa 7, Iowa also has 9 DIII teams. CSU Pueblo adds a DII program in Source: HS Athletics Participation Survey and Intermatwrestle.com and Cody Bickley

19 Kansas College Wrestling A growing source for recruiting top talent. National Level College Title 2006/07 Finish 07/08 Current Rank Colby (JUCO) Labette (JUCO) Neosho (JUCO) Pratt (JUCO) 16 (first year) 16 Fort Hays State Newman 14 (NCWA) 10 (NCWA) Kansas State 13 (NCWA) 12 (NCWA) Kansas University, Pittsburg State and Wichita State all have fledgling NCWA programs. Source: University web sites, tournament results.

20 The Need (at Kansas State) K-State ranks first nationally among state universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars since Its students have won more than $2 million in those five competitions and have earned K- State a place among the nation's elite universities. Many wrestlers forego wrestling opportunities to capitalize on Kansas State s academic programs. Rank among the 500 state universities 1. K-State: #1 in all-time Truman and Goldwater scholars; #2 in Rhodes scholars since 1986; #2 in Marshall scholars since 1986 (tied); #3 in all-time Udall scholars (tied). 2. Penn State 3. University of North Carolina 4. University of Kansas Rank among all 2,400 public and private universities 1. Harvard 2. Yale 3. Stanford 4. Princeton 5. Duke 6. K-State source: KSU website Should Kansas top athletic scholars have to go out of state?? Can t they be scholar-athletes and represent Kansas??

21 Kansas State University s Wrestling Club Competes in National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) with over 100 teams (founded in 1997), and Southwest Conference with 22 teams (founded in 1991.) Coaches (Experienced, Dedicated, High Quality): Beau Tillman: 7 th year as Head Coach, 2x NCWA All-American. Drew Welchert: 4 th year as Assistant Coach, Club President, 3x National Qualifier. Joey Heersche, 3 rd year as Assistant Coach, Vice President, Wrestled for Labette CC during national title year. Booster Club (A growing base of support now in its 3 rd season): Committed to supporting KSU s NCWA team and re-establishing a DI program. Initiatives (Fund Raising, Support Base Development, Publicity). Achievements and Accolades 2007 Head Coach named NCWA Coach of The Year. Steven Kern (Wamego HS). NCWA National Champion. Only 14 th 4x NCWA All-American. Team Placed 13 th at NCWA Nationals. Team invited to and participated in National Duals in Iowa. Top teams invited only!! Prior to 2007 Founded in One National Champion. Dave Karnowski (Wamego HS). 18 NCWA All-Americans. 25 Southwestern Conf Champs. Four Conference Team Championships. Four Top 10 National Finishes.

22 Kansas State University s Wrestling KSU s Varsity Wrestling: Dropped in 1975 due to financial considerations. The team had one individual national champion and placed in the top 10 three times. Its highest finish was 6 th place in Today many former wrestlers are significant donors to the University. Joe Seay wrestled for KSU (one of the most accomplished wrestling coaches ever). KSU s Annual Intramural Tournament: The Recreational Department hosts an annual intramural wrestling tournament that lasts 4 nights. 157 current KSU students competed in the tournament in It is not unusual to have multiple high school state medalists facing each other in this tournament. The vast majority of these wrestlers are not members of the NCWA club. Why do they not participate with the club?? - Some may choose not to wrestle on a competitive level any more. - Some may not be able to afford to attend college, wrestle, and work. A wrestling team made up of just the top wrestlers from this tournament could be competitive at the Division I level.

23 Market Analysis (Recruiting Pool) Sport Number of U.S. HS Athletes Number of KS HS Athletes Number of College Athletes Percent HS to NCAA 1. Football 1,071,775 14,289 60, Basketball 546,335 9,537 16, Track & Field 533,985 9,199 21, Baseball 470,671 5,959 28, Soccer 358,935 3,617 19, Wrestling 257,246 5,020 5, Cross 208,303 3,394 11, Country 8. Golf 161,284 2,936 7, Tennis 153,006 2,334 7, Swimming/ 107,468 1,179 7, Diving Total 3,863,296 57, , Source: NWCA, & National Federation of High School Associations, participation survey.

24 New or Re-instated Programs Since 1999 Division I: Utah Valley State, Bucknell, Binghamton, Sacred Heart, Liberty. Division II: Mesa State, Grand Canyon, Mercyhurst College, Limestone College, Newberry College, New Mexico Highlands, Belmont Abbey, St. Andrews Presbyterian, Newman. Colorado State University (Pueblo) starts DII program in Division III: Olivet, Tri-State, Stevens Tech, Seton Hill. NAIA: Campbellsville, Menlo, Great Falls, York College, Morningside College, Mckendree College, Bacone College, Oklahoma City, Oregon Institute of Technology, King College, Sioux Falls, Notre Dame College. NJCAA: Spartansburg Methodist, Jamestown, Dakota County, Southwest Oregon, Pratt, Wentworth, Mercyhurst Northeast, Neosho. Women: Menlo, Oklahoma City, Cumberlands, Missouri Valley College. Note: 3 KS Colleges. Source: intermatwrestle.com with four edits.

25 Financial Analysis Tangible Cost: Fixed Costs: Facilities (what regulations by what organizations require a separate facility?) Can it be waived? 50 x 150 room, $2 Million New (guess); $100K annual lease (guess), or 0 if existing facility. Wrestling Mats (two each) $18,000 Recurring Costs Minimum Competitive Coach (Head) $60,000 $100,000 Coach (Assistant) $35,000 $45,000 Coach (Assistant) $35,000 $45,000 Coach s Benefits (27%) $35,100 $51,300 Recruiting $5,000 $12,000 Travel $30,000 $50,000 Insurance $5,000 $5,000 Practice Gear $1,500 $2,000 Uniforms $1,500 $5,000 Scholarships (9.9 full) $138,600 $200,000 (spend at school) Total Budget $346,700 $515,300 Source: Missouri Wrestling Coach, NWCA, and estimates.

26 Financial Analysis (Tangible Revenues) Ticket Sales: Missouri brings 3,000 x $5 per match ($15,000 per event). 7 Home events x $15,000 = $105,000. Wrestling is #3 draw behind Football & Men s Basketball at Missouri. FHSU vs Stanford Dual in Topeka had over 1,000 in attendance with 3 weeks advance ticket sales (Nov 07). (source: Bob Gonzales) Top 10 wrestling dual crowds range from 13,805 to 15,646 all at Iowa, Iowa State or Minnesota. (source: Historian Danny Diehl) Licensed wrestling fan gear sales (8% of cost). Wrestling camp revenues. Concessions. Booster club donations. Missouri brings between $30,000 and $40,000.

27 Financial Analysis Intangibles: (side affects of building a wrestling program) Ticket sales to other events (football season tickets). Donors to Athletic Department. Licensed fan gear sales for other sports (8% of cost). Advertising value of program (in state). Advertising value of program (national). Increased traffic on campus. Concessions at other events. Booster Club Donations. Increased Enrollment. Benefit to city (increased tourism).

28 Financial Analysis (Intangible Revenues) Assumptions: By adding wrestling, a KS school would instantly make great strides toward attracting a niche fan base. The existing KSU sport that wrestling fans would most closely align with is football. Fans may not crossover to other sports in high numbers (KSU Athletic Dept studies show this). There will be some crossover which can be rolled up into a total. How much is this?? There will be some donor support gained that can be rolled up into a total. How much is it?? How much in the Jar? There is an advertising value associated with adding a program. How much is the in-sate value and how much is the national level?? Additional Categories: Ticket sales for other sports/events, licensed fan gear sales (8% of cost), concessions at other events, booster club donations, increased enrollment. Answer: $92.93

29 Title IX Three-Prong Test for an institution s compliance: 1. Providing athletic opportunities that are substantially proportionate to the student enrollment. 2. Demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented gender. 3. Full and effective accommodation of the interest and ability of underrepresented gender.

30 Kansas D1 Schools Title IX standing KSU, KU WSU Full-time Undergrads Sport Participants Participants with wrestling Sports Programs Men 21, % % % 18 Women 21, % % % 25 Source: U.S. Department of Education. Office of Postsecondary Education. Equity in Athletics Report. 2006/07 reported numbers. Using unduplicated athletes for analysis, Kansas Universities have proportionally 2.51% more women athletic opportunities than male. By adding a 40 man wrestling team the state would be statistically proportional with a.91% favor to women. Kansas would still offer six more women s programs than men s.

31 Women s Sport Analysis (Big 12) Men s wrestling has more HS participants than any of these women s sports. Only the bottom 3 are not represented at the D1 level in Kansas. Kansas also has Equestrian and Rowing for women at the D1 level but no reported High School participation. Sport # of Athletes KS High School Participants Big 12 Teams Softball 19 4, Soccer 37 2, Swimming & Diving 38 1,542 6 Bowling? Gymnastics Wrestling? 50 0 Source: Big 12 web site, HS participation survey.

32 Supporting Agencies National Wrestling Coaches Association: Who are they? 34 member Board of Directors affiliated with: NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, California Community Colleges. National Federation of State HS Associations. National Wrestling Officials Association. USA Wrestling and National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Business Interests. Six full time staff and over 8,000 members. and How can they help? What programs do they have? Building Grass Roots Support. Identifying Coaching Prospects. Securing Startup Funds and Equipment. Promote KSU Wrestling Nationally. Assist with Title IX considerations. Leadership Training. Coaches Resource Guide. Technique Video Library. Novations Online Courses. Self Assessment tool for coaches.

33 Summary Kansas needs and deserves a NCAA Division I wrestling program. Kansas has a tradition of wrestling competitively at the national level. Kansas has the ability to field a nationally competitive Division I team. Kansas clubs, high schools and junior colleges create a tremendous recruiting pool for additional power. Kansas top scholar-athlete wrestlers would benefit from a program at a D1 school. Kansas Universities might attract students who are now going out of state if they offer wrestling. Wrestling will benefit the athletic department, university, the city, and state of Kansas. KSU and KU can remain in Title IX proportion by adding a team. Wrestling s national support base will help Kansas to fund, develop, and strengthen the team. New revenues can be generated from a large # of wrestling alumni who are passionate about the sport.

34 Summary Kansas Universities are positioned in the best wrestling market in the nation amid a regional trend of adding wrestling at the supporting level. If a school would decide to add wrestling, it will have instant national publicity in all wrestling publications and can parlay it into the mainstream media. We strongly urge Division I Universities in Kansas to add wrestling. Opportunity is knocking. Parlay: To increase or otherwise transform into something of much greater value.